Method for forming bucklings in a plate member, tool and plate

ABSTRACT

A method and tool for forming convexities ( 3, 4 ) in a plate body ( 1 ), which plate body ( 1 ) comprises a main face ( 2 ) and a plurality is of side edges The plate body ( 1 ) is inserted between two tool halves ( 11, 12 ), which are brought together and interact to press a first set of convexities ( 3 ) in a first direction relative to the main face ( 2 ) of the plate body ( 1 ) and a second set of convexities ( 4 ) in a second, opposite direction relative to the main face ( 2 ) of the plate body ( 1 ). The convexities ( 3, 4 ) are formed along a straight line across the plate body ( 1 ) between two of the side edges thereof. The plate body ( 1 ) is secured so that the main face ( 2 ) thereof maintains its orientation, and each of the convexities ( 3 ) in the first set of convexities is pressed out by a length ( 1 ) measured from one side of the convexities ( 3 ) at a point ( 20 ) on the main face ( 1 ) of the plate body ( 1 ) along the convexity ( 3 ) to the second side of the convexity ( 3 ) at a point ( 21 ) on the main face ( 2 ) of the plate body ( 1 ), which is substantially equal to the corresponding length ( 1 ) by which each of the convexities ( 4 ) in the second set of convexities is pressed out.

[0001] The present invention relates to a method in accordance with thepreamble in independent claim 1 below, a tool in accordance with thepreamble in independent claim 3, and a plate in accordance with thepreamble in independent claim 6.

[0002] A method, a tool and a plate in accordance with the above areknown from U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,176. This publication teaches a rail thatis produced by placing a plate-shaped body in a tool, which formsconvexities in two opposite directions relative to the main face of theplate body. However, at the same time as the convexities are formed, theplate is also bent so that it becomes essentially U-shaped incross-section. Owing to the substantial bending of the plate, onlyrail-shaped bodies having just one row of convexities can be made bymeans of this method and tool. A plate of greater extent and havingseveral rows of convexities cannot be produced using the taught methodand tool.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,846 teaches a plate-shaped body whereconvexities are formed in opposite directions. However, theseconvexities are only made at one side edge of the plate, which resultsin tension arising in the juncture between the innermost convexity andthe distal planar portion of the plate. It is therefore not possible toproduce such convexities over a major area of the plate, since theseconvexities will result in the plate twisting markedly. Also, the plateis only intended to receive an adjustable leg of a dishwasher. U.S. Pat.No. 3,062,570, U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,505 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,420 teachother variants of plates equipped with convexities. All the plates areproduced with specific uses in view, such as a comer connector for astand, a holder for a burner and a post for use in a shopfitting system.None of these publications teach convexities which are suitable forarranging over a major extent of a plate.

[0004] The main objective of the present invention is to make possiblethe provision of convexities over a larger area of a plate than ispossible with the known methods and tools. A plate of this kind havingconvexities over a major area of the plate, for example, across theentire plate, may, for instance, be used as a suspension plate, for use,for example, in a shopfitting system; as a substructure for a floor,wherein the plate has convexities ensuring a suitable distance between,for example, a wooden floor and a concrete floor, and may also be madeof a somewhat yielding material so that it springs a little underpressure; as a sound-absorbing wall in that, for example, two suchplates can be arranged with insulation therebetween, where the purposeof the convexities is to scatter the reflected sound; as a lamp shade,wherein a light source is mounted on the back of the plate and the plateserves to disperse the light so as to provide indirect illuminationfrom, for example, a wall or a ceiling; as anchoring for, for instance,reinforcement bars, in that the plate can form a connection betweenseveral reinforcing rods and hold them correctly spaced apart; asdecorative plates on walls or ceilings, optionally also for decorativepurposes on other articles, e.g., lamp shades; and as a hingeconnection, the convexities formed along the respective side edges oftwo plates being intermeshed and a hinge pin fed through theconvexities.

[0005] The aforementioned are merely examples of the use of a plateproduced according to the method of the invention and using the tool ofthe invention. More possible uses will almost certainly come to light asthe invention begins to be used.

[0006] The above-mentioned possibilities are achieved by means of thefeatures disclosed in the characterising clauses in the said independentclaims hereinbelow.

[0007] The dependent claims disclose advantageous embodiments of theinvention.

[0008] The invention will now be explained in more detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009]FIGS. 1a, b, and c show a tool according to the present inventionin three different stages of the production of a plate according to theinvention, using the method of the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary lateral view of a tool according to theinvention;

[0011]FIGS. 3a, b and c are sectional views of different possibleembodiments of a plate according to the invention;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a plate according to theinvention;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the plate of FIG. 4; and

[0014]FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the plate of FIG. 4, used as asuspension plate.

[0015]FIG. 1a illustrates a tool 10, consisting of a first tool half 11and a second tool half 12. On each side of each tool half 11, 12 thereis provided a combined ejector and rest 13 for a plate 1. The ejectorsare each pre-tensioned pairwise against one another by means of a spring14.

[0016] Each tool half 11, 12 is equipped with a plurality of projections15, which are best illustrated in FIG. 2. Spaces 16 are formed betweenthe projections. The tool halves 11, 12 are configured so that theprojections 15 on the tool half 11 fit into the spaces 16 on the toolhalf 12, and vice versa. A plate 1 is inserted between the tool halves11, 12, which plate comprises a main surface 2 and a number of sideedges.

[0017] In Figure 1b the two tool halves 11, 12 are brought completelytogether. The ejectors 13 here are pressed right in against theirsprings 14, so that they come to rest against a tool holder 17. Themovement of the tool halves 11, 12 towards each other then comes to astandstill. The opposing faces 18 of the ejectors 13 rest against theplate 1, and the plate 1 and the faces 18 of the ejectors 13 define thedividing plane 19 of the tool. The projections 15 of the first tool half11 project beyond the dividing plane 19 by a length 1, measured from thedividing plane 19 of the tool at a point 20 along the projection 15,across the top of the projection, to the dividing plane 19 of the toolat a point 21 on the opposite side of the projection 15. The projections15 of the second tool half 12 also project beyond the dividing plane 19of the tool by the same length 1, but in the opposite direction.Therefore, an equally large amount of plate material, measured in thefigured plane of Fig. lb, is pressed out to each side of the dividingplane 19 of the tool, thereby ensuring that the plate is substantiallyfree from tension, even after the convexities have been formed. In FIG.1c the tool halves 11, 12 are again drawn apart from one another, and inthe plate 1 a number of convexities 3, 4 are formed which extend fromone side edge of the plate in a straight line to the opposite side edgeof the plate.

[0018] The shape of the convexities 3, 4 can be adapted according to theapplication of the plate. The only condition set is that the convexitieslying along the same straight line have the same length measured alongthe convexity from the main face of the plate on one side of theconvexity to the main face of the plate on the other side of theconvexity. As can be seen from FIGS. 3a - 3c, all the convexities 3, 4arranged pairwise opposite each other are of the same length measuredalong the convexity. However, convexities formed along different linesmay be of different lengths. The extent of the convexities along thestraight line from plate edge to plate edge and the height of arch ofthe convexities measured from the principal plane of the plate are of noimportance and can be adjusted according to use. Thus, the convexitieson the same line may have different cross-sectional shapes. The straightlines along which the convexities lie, do not need to be parallel toeach other, but may be at a randomly selected angle to each other.

[0019] The row of convexities must extend from one side edge of theplate in a straight line to the other side edge of the plate. When theconvexities are formed in this way a tension-free plate is obtainedwhich maintains its original principal shape. The plate will twist orbend to a very small degree, apart from the actual convexities, and theplate will be easy to bend into a desired shape once the convexitieshave been formed. Before, after, or at the same time as the pressed-outportions are formed, recesses may optionally also be punched out in theplate. The recesses may be located between the convexities in one line,or they may be located between the convexities in two adjacent lines.

[0020] In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a plate 1 is shown which in generalcomprises a first side face 2 a and a second side face 2 b. From thisplate 1, areas 3 are pressed out in a first direction, so that the areas3 form a curved face at a distance from the first side face 2 a. Otherareas 4 are pressed out from the plate 1 in an opposite direction andform a second curved face at a distance from the second side face 2 b,so that the areas 3 and 4 are in alternating relation in a row 5 acrossthe plate. A plurality of such rows 5 can be arranged at a distance fromeach other, and define areas 6 between each other, which areas 6 are inthe planar main portion 2 of the plate. Between each of the areas 3 and4, openings 7 are formed for the insertion of, for example, a hook 8(see FIG. 6), bolts, thread, wires, cables, pipes and so forth.

[0021] The alternating areas 3 and 4 are alternately formed having ashort and a long length. Thus, the areas 3 a have a longer length thanthe areas 3 b, and likewise the areas 4 a have a longer length than theareas 4 b. When the inner end 9 of the hook 8 is to be fixed in theplate 1, the end 9 is inserted towards, for example, an area 4 a, andthen passed down through the opening 7 behind an area 3 b until the end9 reaches an area 4 b. The end 9 of the hook 8 is then retained betweenthe areas 4 a, 3 b and 4 b.

[0022] The pressed-out areas 3 and 4 may have any chosen cross-sectionalform, e.g., a circular cross-sectional form. With the circularcross-sectional form, it is possible to arrange hooks so as to becapable of stringing on the plate 1.

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a section of the plate 1 where the alternating areas3 and 4 are plain to see. The areas are arranged in a row following arepetitive pattern:

[0024] A short area 3 b, a short area 4 b, a long area 3 a, a short area4 b, a short area 3 b and a long area 4 a. Naturally, other patterns ofalternating areas are also possible, depending upon what is to besecured to the plate.

[0025] Although in the exemplary embodiment, a plate is shown that isprimarily intended as a suspension means for hooks or the like, thisplate can be used in virtually any situation where it is desirable tohold together various elements. One example may be the fasteningtogether of reinforcing rods for reinforcing, for instance, concrete. Aplate may then, for example, be bent into a cylinder and held in thisposition by means of bars disposed substantially diametrically on theinside of the cylinder and secured in the openings 7, in the same way asthe hooks 8. On the outside reinforcing rods can be inserted through theopenings 7 along the rows 5. Several cylinders of this kind can bearranged along the reinforcing rods. In this way good reinforcement willbe obtained for making, e.g., pillars or columns.

[0026] As mentioned in the introduction, other applications of the plateof the invention are also conceivable, and the invention is thereforenot limited to only the said areas of application, but can be used inany area whatsoever where it is desirable to have a tension-free plateprovided with pressed-out portions in opposite directions.

1. A method for forming convexities (3, 4) in a plate body (1), whichplate body (1) comprises a main face (2) and a plurality of side faces,said plate body (1) being inserted between two tool halves (11, 12)which are brought together and interact to press a first set ofconvexities (3) in a first direction relative to the main face (2) ofthe plate body (1), and a second set of convexities (4) in a second,opposite direction relative to the main face (2) of the plate body (1),wherein the convexities (3, 4) are formed along a straight line acrossthe plate body (1) between two side edges thereof, characterised in thatthe plate body (1) is secured so that the main face (2) thereofmaintains its orientation, and each of the convexities (3) in the firstset of convexities is pressed out by a length (1), measured from oneside of the convexity (3) at a point (20) on the main face (2) of theplate body (1) along the convexity (3) to the other side of saidconvexity (3) at a point (21) on the main face (2) of the plate body(1), which is substantially equal to the corresponding length (1) bywhich each of the convexities (4) in the second set of convexities ispressed out.
 2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in thatrecesses are punched out in the plate body (1) at the same time as theconvexities (3, 4) are formed.
 3. A tool comprising a first (11) and asecond (12) tool half, wherein the tool halves (11, 12) have a pluralityof projections (15) arranged along a straight line and are separated bya plurality of spaces (16), said projections (15) on the first tool half(1) fitting into the spaces (16) on the second tool half (12), and viceversa, characterised in that the tool is provided with a face (18),which is situated in the dividing plane (19) of the tool when the toolhalves (11, 12) are brought completely together, on with face (18) aworkpiece (1) is held firmly when the tool halves (11, 12) are broughtcompletely together, wherein the projections (15) on the first tool half(11) are of a length (1), measured from a point (20) in the dividingplane (19) of the tool, across the top of the projection to a point (21)in the dividing plane (19) on the opposite side of the projection (15).Which is equal to the corresponding length (1) across the projections(15) on the second tool half (12)
 4. A tool according to claim 3,characterised in that the contact faces (18) are provided on pairwisearranged ejectors (13), which ejectors are equipped with springs (14),which pre-tension the ejectors (13) pairwise against each other.
 5. Aplate, comprising a main face (2) and a plurality of side edges, inwhich plate there are formed a first set of convexities (3) in a firstdirection relative to the main face (2) and a second set of convexities(4) in a second direction relative to the main face (2), wherein theconvexities (3) in the first set of convexities are of a length (1),measured from one side of the convexity (3) at a point (20) on the mainface (2) along the convexity (3) to the other side of said convexity (3)at a point (21) on the main face (2) of the plate body (1), which issubstantially equal to the corresponding length (1) of each of theconvexities (4) in the second set of convexities, the plate (1) beingequipped with pressed-out portions in a repetitive pattern over at leasta major part of the extent of the plate and arranged in lines, whereinthe pattern of pressed-out portions is composed of: a first area (3)which forms a curved face projecting from a first planar side face (2 a)of the plate, a second area (4) which forms a curved face projecting outfrom an opposing second planar side face (2 b) of the plate; said firstarea (3) abutting on the second area (4) whereby an opening (7) isformed through the plate (1) at the boundary line between the first (3)and the second area (4), which opening (7) is directed substantiallyparallel to the planar portion of the plate (2), where respectively thefirst area (3) and the second area (4) are connected to the plate (1)along at least a part of respectively the first (3) and the second area(4), and wherein the pattern formed by the first and second areasemerges as an identical. repetitive pattern on both sides of the plate,characterised in that the plate's pattern comprises areas (3, 4) whichare of alternating different lengths.
 6. A plate according to claim 5,characterised in that the areas (3, 4) alternate in the followingpattern a short area (3 b) projecting out from the first side (2 a) ofthe plate, a short area (4 b) projecting out from the opposite secondside (2 b) of the plate, a long area (3 a) projecting out from the firstside (2 a) of the plate, a short area (4 b) projecting out from theopposite second side (2 b) of the plate, a short area (3 b) projectingout from the first side (2 a) of the plate.